XML 31 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Significant Accounting Policies, Convertible Debt and Segment Information (Details)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Segment
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Information [Abstract]      
Number of operating segments 2us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments    
1 Percent Convertible Senior Notes [Member]      
Convertible Debt [Abstract]      
Interest rate on convertible debt (in hundredths) 1.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= isis_ConvertibleSeniorNotes1PercentMember
1.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= isis_ConvertibleSeniorNotes1PercentMember
 
2 3/4 Percent Convertible Senior Notes [Member]      
Convertible Debt [Abstract]      
Interest rate on convertible debt (in hundredths) 2.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= isis_ConvertibleSeniorNotes275PercentMember
2.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= isis_ConvertibleSeniorNotes275PercentMember
2.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= isis_ConvertibleSeniorNotes275PercentMember